Academic Policies and General Information

Transfer Credit and Credit by Examination for Graduate Students

A limited number of graduate course credits acquired elsewhere, at UVM prior to admission to a graduate program, or by credit by examination may be included as part of a student's program of study, with approval of the program faculty and the Dean of the Graduate College. Credit by examination is earned by arranging through a program faculty member to take an examination that tests the student's skills and knowledge in a particular UVM course appropriate for inclusion in the student's degree program.

If credit is transferred, only the credit is transferred, not the grade.

Graduate Credit earned at UVM after completion of the bachelor's degree but prior to admission to a graduate program is transfer credit and is subject to the requirements and limits that follow.

Approval of credit:
Approval of credit is recommended by the graduate program and approved by the Graduate College based on the specific
program requirements described in the Graduate College Catalogue, as well as (1) the number of credits requested, (2) the appropriateness of credit for inclusion in the degree program, and (3) the currency of the credit. These criteria are described below. Any exceptions must be approved by the program faculty and the Dean of the Graduate College.

Number of credits:
Master's degree and Doctor of Education students are allowed nine hours of
transfer credit, and/or credit by examination, and an additional six credits acquired from appropriate courses taken at UVM prior to admission to a degree program may also be transferred; Doctor of Philosophy students are allowed 24 credits, and an additional six credits acquired from appropriate courses taken at UVM. This means that all Master's students take at least 21 credits at The University of Vermont (at least 15 after admission); Doctor of Philosophy at least 51 credits (at least 45 after admission); and Doctor of Education at least 47 credits (at least 41 after admission). For Master's programs that require more than 30 credits, program faculty may, in individual cases, recommend more transfer credits. In all cases, students must take at least one half of their degree credits at The University of Vermont after admission and adhere to
all requirements stipulated by the graduate program.

Appropriateness of credit:
Transfer credit and credit by examination must be approved by the program faculty as appropriate for inclusion as part of the student's degree requirements. Credit cannot be awarded for (1) courses taken prior to completion of an undergraduate degree program, (2) courses that would not receive graduate credit if taken at The University of Vermont, (3) courses with a grade lower than B (3.00), (4) thesis or dissertation research credits received at another institution, and (5) credit by examination given by another institution.

Currency of credit:
Transfer credit and credit by examination must be taken within seven years
of completion of the master's degree and within nine years of completion of the doctoral degree. Students wishing to apply for readmission to a program after deactivation must demonstrate currency of knowledge in the field of study to which they are applying. Currency of knowledge must be formally evaluated by the program faculty. In addition, the returning student must complete a program of study including at least two courses in the current program.

Concurrent Master's and Doctor of Philosophy Credit

Up to 30 hours of course work for which graduate credit is earned at UVM in a master's degree program, whether a master's degree is received or not, may be applied toward a Ph. D. at UVM, provided that the credit is appropriate for the Ph. D. program. No provision is made for a person to employ the same credit to satisfy two master's degrees at The University of Vermont.